1960 Bolens Ride-a-matic - Can spare parts become a tractor?

[@larrybl]

I find the hardest part is finding No Longer Available parts. Take care.

[@GardenTractorBoy]

You are right and it can be both fun and frustrating trying to find them. For us the biggest problem is shipping, it is getting very expensive. Ideally we need to find someone that regularly travels between the US and UK or a US miltary person based in the UK. Take care

[@noelstractors-firewood57]

I’d like to see more of the painting side of the restoration, as you said, we’ve seen most of the mechanical restoration. Both are great to watch. But some paint tips would be good. Great video fellas. Take care and we will see you soon. 👍🏻👍🏻👋👋

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. Paint is a work not often used in our wrokshop :-) so it will be a case of showing how we do it rather than showing some good tips but it could be a good opportunity for us to learn from the comments. Take care

[@noelstractors-firewood57]

👋👋👍🏻👍🏻

[@DIYVariety]

I like all of it but i think this time more on the paint and fender preparation etc would be great

[@GardenTractorBoy]

That is a good and popular suggestion, thanks. We are not experts on paint prep so it will be a case of showing how we do it. Take care

[@DIYVariety]

@GardenTractorBoy exactly

[@RustyGlovebox]

Made great progress with all the parts you have but also what you’re missing. Good luck sourcing the needed parts to complete your project. 👏😎

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. This was a very useful process, we did get further than we expected but also found we are missing some parts we thought we had. I think we can find some of the parts but shipping is getting very expensive so we will need to make some parts. Take care

[@daveshsb]

Really enjoy all the organization and thought you put into each tractor! A bit of work now will save bunches of time down the road! Well done Joseph! Take care!

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thank you. We have never tried building a tractor from spare parts before but so far it looks like we can make this work. It has been a good process because we were sure that we had one of the key parts and that is not the case. Take care

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Definitely have your work cut out for you! At least you have your “to get” list now. Have fun finding a spot to store it in the meantime 😁👍

[@GardenTractorBoy]

You are right, this has a few interesting challenges. Shipping from the US is getting very expensive these days so we may have to make more of the parts. Storage is always the hard bit, it has not left the workshop yet. Take care

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good Evening Joseph Crew 👍👍😇😇 Yes Military RAF Jets are noisy 🤔🤣👍 You Are Doing Very Well With This Various Part Tractor 👍👍😇 Go In Deep Mechanic Repair 🧐👍🙏 Be Well Both Of You Cheers 🍻🍻

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks, this will be a fun project once we have bought or made the missing parts. Our part of the country is used a lot for RAF and USAF training, we had a A400 transport plane doing bumps and turns at our local airport today and then coming over ours at around 1000 feet. It was great to see. Take care

[@29chevbolenschannel40]

Lots of parts that you have but some you will need to find to complete the job - part of the joy of being bitten by the Bolens Bug. I wonder if there would be anyway to 3D print the front grille - just a thought. I would suggest when you do this restoration you concentrate on things that have not been covered already. The body work and prep for paint would be interesting viewing - perhaps even take items you have on hand such as the two more pitted fenders and show how you would go about prepping them for paint - that way you would have a pair in useable condition if (probably more likely when) needed for the next tractor you get and other viewers would learn how to deal with less than perfect parts. Might even be worth while fabricating a new tool box out of steel using the rusted one as a pattern to test and grow your fabrication skills. Just suggestions for you to consider. Storage is always a problem when new tractors show up - maybe your sister would consider sharing her room with one while it awaits your TLC. 😁

[@GardenTractorBoy]

That is a great idea about 3D printing a grill but it would need a large printer. A number of years ago a friend made a Roper grill from timber and ply and then covered it with fiberglass, he did a great job. That seems like a good idea to cover body work, prep and paint but it would be a case of showing how we do it rather than the right way of doing it. Making this video got us talking in detail about the missing parts, we think we know were we can buy some and some others would be fun to make which leaves us with a few to think about. We do want to buy or make all the missing parts before we start. I will let you suggest storing the tractor in my sisters bedroon, we will be hiding :-) Take care

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Joseph, Nice approach to finding what is missing for your shopping list... I am really looking forward to seeing the complete restoration (paintwork, etc.) sometime in the future. Keep up the good work. Take care. Paul,,

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks Paul. We do want some certainty on some key missing parts before we do start and we have also been talking about making some parts which we may video. Take care

[@gravelyman]

Hello Joseph. It's to bad it's such a problem getting parts right of way but you eventually get them. I like it when you make parts. You are well equipped to do so. Good luck and take care 🔧👍

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. I think we may have to make a lot of parts for this project and parts are getting very expensive to ship to the UK. Take care

[@LewisMowersandBoats]

Hello brother Joseph 😊 I'm proud to call you friend. You are a wonderful mechanic and teacher. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us 🙏 and the camera man is cool too 😎 😂😂

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thank you for the kind words although I think we see the real skills when we watch your videos. Take care and I hope you have a great week

[@OpenAirAdventure]

Evening Joseph. I'd say by the look of things you guys are off to a great start of a new tractor. With your knowledge and equipment making parts wouldn't be an issue. Not tired at all Joseph, it's all good.

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks and I am very pleased that you enjoy following along. I think we will need to make a lot of parts for this project. Take care

[@whenworkisplay]

Hello Joseph, this reminds me of a big puzzle except yours is going to have a purpose when it is done. 👍 Have a great week, Ben

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks Ben. I think the proble we have found is the puzzle parts take up less room than the part assembled tractor :-) It is great that we have so many of the parts we need. Take care

[@santaclause2875]

Another good episode, Joseph, thanks for sharing. In future episodes, maybe a few scenes involving the electrical wiring repair/refurbishment processes, wire gauge sizes used, connections, various switches/devices used, and the like, might be helpful. Thanks again !!!

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. Wiring is an interesting suggestion, it is often something we skip over as we think people would not be interested and I am sure a lot of people are better at electrics than us but we will do our best. Take care

[@retiredforlife63]

I think the way you have been doing your videos with a look at how you are doing the repairs is interesting to watch. Keep up the good work. I agree with the other comments. It would be interesting to see the full paint job as well. Good luck on your parts list.

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thank you for the kind words. We do not do a lot of painting so this will be interesting. Take care

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

Good afternoon Joseph !

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Hello Gary, I hope everything is good with you. Take care

[@gatorsworld]

Well done Joseph. that was a good round up of what`s to get and what`s to fix to get this tractor restored....I would like to see a complete repaint but only if this fits your agenda and program....CHEERS

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. A repaint seem to be a popular suggestion. We have a few projects stalled due to not being able to get the parts so we will not start on this until we have more of what we need. It is great to have a list of parts we need. Take care

[@houndsmanone4563]

Enjoyed your attention to details, Joseph. The project is rgadually coming together. I hope you're able to get the parts you need from America without super difficulty. Enjoyed a full-watch. Take it easy mny friend. Mr Don 👍🏽💪🏾🤠 11/16/24

[@GardenTractorBoy]

It is fantastic to get a comment from you, I hope everyting is good with you. We think we can get a few of the parts we need but shipping is getting very expensive. It will be fun to try to make some parts too. Take care

[@EverydayProjects]

It’s difficult to throw parts away and they do come in handy. It looks like you have almost enough spares to make a whole tractor.

[@GardenTractorBoy]

We were really surprised by he amount of parts we have for this but we are still missing a few critical parts. We also thought we had some of the parts that are missing but clearly not. It will be fantastic if this can become a tractor again. Take care

[@mikelastime]

Hello Joseph. Another great video, thanks for sharing

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks for following along, take care

[@oologahgardentractorandcha3055]

Looks like a really fun project

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. I think the fun bit will be trying to make some of the parts that we can't find or ones that are too expensive to ship. Take care

[@eyuptony]

Thats turning into a real basket case Joseph. Didn't know they were made in the USA. The front axle design is a nice casting. You'll have to show us how you're going to straighten that bent chassis 💪 where the footrest mounts. Cheers Tony

[@GardenTractorBoy]

It will be interesting to straighten the chassis as it has a few challenges. The cast front axle on these old garden tractors are very cool. They are very heavy and I was surprised that I managed to locate the bolt whilst holding it. Most of our old garden tractors were made in the USA, this makes shipping parts very expensive. Take care

[@180Floridalife]

Great work with the spare parts tractor

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks 👍 We were surprised that we had so many parts for this. Take care

[@tinkeringtaylor3053]

Another good video, like to see the prep and painting, it must be getting colder got the boiler suit on 🥶

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. Prep and paint seems to be popular. We are not experts so it will showing how we do it. You are right, the workshop is getting colder but our workshop is odd in that you never really know if it will be cold or warm. Take care

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

Full watch Joseph I think you guys have a winner

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. If we can buy or make the missing parts, I think this will make a great tractor. Take care

[@PetersonFarmsofNashvillePFON]

Great Video and Kudos to the Camera Man 👍 I like seeing both options you discussed for video series I enjoy your thought process and seeing something come together from the frame up PS - you might consider a name change for the Tractor to International Harvester Because of all the parts you are Harvesting from tractors Internationally 😂 Have a great day Bye 👋🏼

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thank you for the kind words and support. International Harvester is very funny LOL. We do seen to have a lot of parcels coming from across the pond, two more in flight as I type. We have even just bought some parts from Germany but they also started life in the USA. Take care and I hope you are having a great week

[@jankotze1959]

Hi Joseph, I would like to see only high-lights and then all the painting, that will be awesome

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. That does seem like a popular view. We will probably cover any parts we have to make too. Take care

[@loggerjohn01]

Whenever I have to build or fix something, my main goal is to never have any leftover parts, lol. I wonder if it was Dave from RCAFpolarexpress flying over? I am enjoying watching you guys work on these projects. This one is definitely a big one. But it is coming together. Take care

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. There is nothing worse than putting something back together and still having some parts leftover. In this case we are short of a few parts. Maybe we should wave at the planes in case it is Dave :-) Take care

[@GrampiesWorkshop]

How's she goin'? Well Joseph you had a bench full of parts and a frame to start the video and in the end you had a skeleton of a tractor and a plan to make it into an operating machine. I'd say you had a busy day!! Good progress too!! Take 'er easy!!

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. We did get a lot further than we were expecting and we were surprised by a couple of parts that we thought we already had. It will be cool if we are able to turn this into a working tractor. Take care

[@IoannisGiortsis]

Like. 4. Nice video !!!

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thank you very much! Take care

[@richardross7219]

Good video. I hope that you are building a a set of CAD drawings of all of the parts that you make. BTW, I'm still looking for that Bolens spring for the lift helper. Unfortunately, my basement is a big mess and the lift kit wasn't where I thought. Have fun. Good Luck, Rick

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks. It is funny you should mention CAD drawings, we were talking about that as we were making this video. Ideally we would do CAD drawings of the parts we make but CAD is not something we do often and it takes us a very long time to do. At a minimum we will include all the dimensions. No hurry for finding the spring, I am sure it will turn up when you are looking for something else. Take care

[@richardross7219]

@@GardenTractorBoy I was looking at springs from a trampoline and they seemed to be close in size, if my memory is accurate. They were scrap so, I grabbed a handfull. Good Luck, Rick

[@MissouriOldTimer]

it looks like a bit of work on this one but I know you two will get it all done in time.

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks for the support. It will be fun to try to make some of the parts we can't buy. Take care

[@WaynJul]

How do you choose what your next project will be?

[@GardenTractorBoy]

That is a fantastic question, thanks. When we are not filming we talk a lot about which project is next. This is usually based on what equipment we think we need for our land but also what we may want to take to a show. The problem is that after spending some time working out what is next we then often get the opportunity to buy something different and the order changes. At the moment we have a lot of unfinished projects due to the difficulty we getting parts and do not want to start anything new until one of our current projects is finished. Take care

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

The ride-A-matic is coming together, we can actually tell its a tractor now.

[@GardenTractorBoy]

It does look like we may be able to turn this into a working tractor at some point. Take care

[@bobalmendinger4930]

Do you guys have a 56,57, or 58 Bolens Ride a Matic ? Are they more difficult to obtain in the UK ?

[@GardenTractorBoy]

No we do not have a 56, 57, 58 or 59. The first Ride-a-matics to be imported into the UK were 59 models although numbers were very low. We would like to find a 59 to complete the range of officially imported models. We have often talked about importing an early model but it is expensive and we would need someone in the US to work with. Take care

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[@GardenTractorBoy]

Thanks you but this is not something we are interested in. Take care

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